Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-11-12
night, and measles won't do very well with


man, on duty for the purpose at five shill-
ings for the job, who informed them with
bated breath that "there was h'lnfection
in the 'ouse," and the grinding wheels was
all that l heard of my guests for long
while afterwards.
Tim was a dear fellow, and l did not
catch the measles. He too was compli-
mentary about my age and infrmities, and
went SO far as to wonder if | hadn't been
rather pretty when was young. That
night, as Ailsie was brushing my rebellious
locks, | ventured on timid inquiry.
"Ailsie, DEAR" l said in wheedling ac-
cents, "was | ever at all nice looking
when | was young"
"Well," answered the dear old thing.
posing the brush in the air, lit is so
long ago, you see, Miss Hannah YOU
can't expect me to throw my mem'ry back
so far"
"Ah, don't tease me, Ailsie. really
want to know" pleaded.
"Well, then, my dear, you was, and
what's more, you are; and that's the
gospel truth, and many's the one thinks
Sesame as me-"
A few days later, the sweeps being in
possession of the drawing room, telegram
came announcing the arrival of one of my
nieees for a violin lesson in my house, I" if
| did not mind" Hurriedly | had the
piano rescued from upstairs and carried
into my little front snuggery and, Just as
it was put into place by the awkward but
willing helpers we had caught at a few
moments notice, my niece arrived, and
with her came a graceful, ladylike girl,
whose looks attracted me greatly.
Ruth, this is Aunt Hannah" said my
niece. "You didn't mind, did you, Aunt
Hannah? We thought you would not and
Ruth plays my accomplishments so we'll.
We always play together now" l had
been so long away from the old home that
| had fallen out of knowledge of the young
peoples friends; but, from Ruth's looks,
was glad she should be one of them, who
ever she might be.
The violin master came, and the lessen
gave intense pleasure. Ruth's accompani-
ment was perfect; and, as the violin was
being carefully wiped and restored to its
cases, | begged her to play me something
anythlng-whatever she loved best
Mendolsshon for coice, if she would. One
after another she played my best loved old
friends, and turned impatiently when
the footnan opened the door and said, "a
gentleman had called for the young lady
with Miss Grey"
My uncle" said Ruth apologetically
Pray ask him to come in," l said; and
the next moment Mike stood once more
| before me. He bowed little shyly, and
| |, with my back to the window, stood spell
bound and silent. Yes, it was Mike-huge
winsome, heart-breaking Mike; and ]
must greet him as best might.
Mr.. Vivian" l faltered, 81 had nc
idea it was you"
Two huge strides brought him to my
| side. Hannah p he shouted. miss
Grey Why, l was sent to Miss Sin.
clair's Have / come to the wrong houseY'
The young people flew to him open
mouthed about this wonderful thing. and
chatted, mercifully for me, till l had re-
covered my balance little. From time
to time | fe-t his eye upon me, and grew a
trifie hot and angry under it. Why Should
he look at me now in that way? He had
been married for years, and well, |
had settled into my old maid ways-and |
had got over it, as the saying goes.
As if we ever lost "the marks of that
which once had been" As they all
trooped out together, he turned back at
the door, and grasping my hand tightly,
said, Why did you say not at home
nine long years ago."
i didn't | exclaimed Indignantly, in
a stihed voice, "you never came.n
Didn't ?' he answered, and then he
was gone.
That night | slept not at all. Back
Uardc pnI tpruar 1c hot
my ears, Didn't l ~ Oh, Mike. oh faith
ful, large-hearted Mike, have | been
wronging you all these years? Did YOU
come, did you?-and | never knew it-and
now it is too late. Does she love you. |
wonder, as | did-as do, God help me. |
must live it down and crush it under foot.
but for this one night | will allow myself
the joy Of knowing that he did come-he
did come; the rest l cannot even guess at.
Happy, miserable, restless, and vet
soothed, L came down next morning and
found | could settle to nothing in the way
of business. The piano stood where it had
been placed the day before for the girls,
and after many vain efforts to attend prom
erly to writing which ought to have been
done, | wandered up to it and sat me down
listlessly, trying to pick up the thread of
all that child's sympathetic fingers had
done such full justice to; and as | PLAYED
my heart grew lighter, and by degrees nv
Memberships modulated off into lighter
music, and | found myself beating time
once more with my foot to that Waldteufel
Valse which had been dearer to me than
all beside. How l played | threw nv
heart, my whole heart into it; and as /
came to the final chord, l suddenly flung
my arms upon the desk in front of me and
burst into such passion of weeping as |
had never in all my life given way to.
How long l wept I do not know but I
know that then and there | PRAYED with
all my might for strength to root out, for
good and all, this cruel, absorbing, dis
graceful love, and rising with one last
strangled sob and a firm determination
that not another should escape me now
or ever again. | saw the door opening
quietly, and in one moment Mike had hold
of both my hands. In vain tried to pull
them away. They were gently but firmly
gripped, and his dear voice spoke rapidly
in agitated, loving tones.
Don't speak, darling; 1 know what YOU
think. Let me speak first, for the sake of
the dear old times. Let me clear up mat
tiers first. am not the blackguard YOU
think meIGod forbid. Sit down and let
me speak"
What could do but obey him? sat
down, and as he spoke my heart leaped
and danced within me till l could have
shouted for joy, and yet felt ashamed of
my delight. For had he not gone through
deep waters, dear fellow? The poor little
frivolous childish wife had lived but one
year, but had wrought such havoc in his
life in that short time that it were more
charitable to tell nothing of it to any who
did not know the miserable story already.
Peace be with her, poor thing, | need
think of her no more.
Then came the explanation of our own
misfortunes. He had gone straight from
my door the previous evening down to the
dear old home to see my brother, and ar
rived at that explanation. 1t was simple
enough.
My good sister-in-law, on that eventful
morning nine years before, had been fright
ened about one of her infants. and had
hidden the servants to admit no one. "Not
for the young ladies, mum? not for Miss
Hannah p the butler had asked; and she
oil "a